“Maybe he’s not so rotten after all. I told you guys,” Fiella mumbled into her mug.
“He’s not,” I agreed. I thought about the way he risked his life to save mine. Saved my precious dragon. Lingered with me afterward, though he could have fledat any moment.
Could gods risk their lives? I wasn’t sure, but I appreciated the gesture regardless.
“And the King’s men are coming for him soon,” Redd said quietly.
My teeth clamped shut. I bounced my knee anxiously. “They are. And Tommins hasn’t heard anything.”
“You asked Tommins? Never mind, that’s not important,” Kizzi said hurriedly. “It’s out of our hands. We don’t need a god running around Moonvale. He still gives me the heebie jeebies.”
“We can’t defy the King’s orders,” Redd agreed good-naturedly.
I kept my mouth shut. The King hardly ever interfered with our lives. It felt useless for him to do so now.
Moonvale was fine. Moonvale hadalwaysbeen fine.
Was having a god around really so bad?
The urge to defend Shade boiled up my throat, prepared to spew out of my mouth, but I wasn’t sure how to organize my thoughts.
Sure, Shade wasn’t evil, like his reputation promised. Sure, he had saved Bram. But did that make him good? Did that make him kind?
He had also somehow disposed of Asher at the ball—I hadn’t forgotten that part.
And there was the whole “you’re my wife” nonsense, whatever that was.
I could agree that he was strange. He was off.
But was he dangerous?
He didn’t feel dangerous. At least not to me.
Abruptly, I stood. “You know what, I’m exhausted. I think I’m going to wash this mudoff and go to bed.”
Really, I just wanted everyone else to leave so I could go and find Shade.
And do what? Ask him if he was evil? Not likely.
But what else could I do?
The others slowly rose, one at a time.
“Okay…”
“Sure, Ginny.”
“Whatever you need, boss.”
They scooped up their dragons and departed, leaving me with hugs and well wishes on their way.
After a few minutes, I glared at Bram threateningly.
He was yawning, hardly able to keep his eyes open.
I pointed at him anyway. “You, sir, are grounded. You will not leave this cottage. Do you understand me?”
Bram blinked twice, and then curled up and plopped his head on the ground with a sigh.
